Democratic Convention
The article “Democrats’ Reluctance to Attack Reagan Indicates They Accept His Achievements” (by Robert Shogan, Part I, July 22) draws an unwarranted conclusion from the available evidence.
It is certainly true that the Democrats will not attack Reagan with respect to the arms agreement with the Soviets since it represents his one real achievement (there is more Republican than Democratic opposition to it). Nor will they attack Reagan’s tax cut because high taxes are not popular. I hope that both Dukakis and Vice President George Bush realize that taxes must be raised to get us out of the hole that Reagan dug us into; there just isn’t any tooth fairy or Santa Claus that is going to do it for us.
Most Democrats oppose the meddling in Nicaragua. They are not at all reluctant to attack Reagan’s “Star Wars”; those who voted for it should be having second thoughts on such use of high-tech automatic weaponry after the unfortunate episode in the Persian Gulf.
Except for the arms agreement, Reagan has governed as if he believes there will be no tomorrow. Dukakis believes that we must take the steps required to ensure the health and education of those who will one day be called on to develop and use the high-tech equipment required to keep us safe and competitive.
SIDNEY BERTRAM
San Luis Obispo
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